Category: Cor Scorpii

In exactly one month, on the 15th June, “Ruin”, the sophomore full-length album from Norwegian Extreme Melodic Metallers COR SCORPII will hit the streets, and, in the meantime, Dark Essence have released a second track from the album. The track “Skuggevandrar” is available both to stream, or to purchase as a single, from the following:

COR SCORPII was Founded in 2004 as an offshoot of the legendary WINDIR. Today’s lineup of Gaute Refsnes on keyboards, Inge Jonny Lomheim on bass guitars, accordion and programming, Ole M. Nordsve on drums, Rune Sjøthun on rhythm guitars, mandolin and programming, and Thomas S. Øvstedal on vocals, and Erlend Nybø on lead guitars draw their inspiration from classical music, folk melodies and the soundscapes of Nordic extreme metal.

A follow up to COR SCORPII’s critically acclaimed debut album “Monument”, which was released eight years ago, also on Dark Essence Records, “Ruin” is the result of a lengthy song writing process which proved, at times, to be quite arduous for the band, and gives its members an opportunity to reveal their hidden talents by making use of instruments not usually used by metal bands, such as the accordion and mandolin.

Successfully blending epic, soaring melodies, with the harshness of extreme metal, “Ruin was recorded at various locations over a period of three years and was mixed by Børge Finstad in his Toproom Studio, and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll at his Kvalsonic Lab.

With artwork by Novans V. Adikresna of the Marnov Studio, and including featured guests such as the classical singer Annika Beinnes, as well as Mats Lerberg (I SWEAR DAMNATION, ex-FUNERAL) who lend their considerable vocal talents to three tracks each, tracklisting on “Ruin” is as follows:

Svart Blod (Hovmod star for fall)

Hjarteorm

Skuggevandrar

Fotefar

Helveteskap

Ri di Mare

Ærelaus

Siste Dans

“Ruin” will be released in CD, Double Gatefold Vinyl and Digital formats and is now available to pre-order from:

With “Ruin” their long-awaited sophomore full-length album set for release on Dark Essence Records on the 15th June, Norwegian Extreme Melodic Metallers COR SCORPII have released a single from the album. Titled “Fotefar” the single is available to hear and download in digital format from the following:

“Ruin” is the result of a song writing process which was both lengthy and, at times, quite arduous for the band. Drawing its inspiration from classical music, folk melodies and the soundscapes of Nordic extreme metal, “Ruin” is a chance for COR SCORPII’s members to reveal their hidden talents by making use of instruments not usually used by metal bands, such as the accordion and mandolin.

A follow up to COR SCORPII’s critically acclaimed debut album “Monument”, which was released eight years ago, also on Dark Essence Records, “Ruin” is an album that successfully blends epic, soaring melodies, with the harshness of extreme metal. It features guest appearances by the classical singer Annika Beinnes, as well as Mats Lerberg (I SWEAR DAMNATION, ex-FUNERAL) who lend their considerable vocal talents to three tracks each.

“Ruin was recorded at various locations over a period of three years and was mixed by Børge Finstad in his Toproom Studio, and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll at his Kvalsonic Lab. With artwork by Novans V. Adikresna of the Marnov Studio, tracklisting on “Ruin” is as follows:

Svart Blod (Hovmod star for fall)

Hjarteorm

Skuggevandrar

Fotefar

Helveteskap

Ri di Mare

Ærelaus

Siste Dans

Founded in 2004 as an offshoot of the legendary WINDIR, COR SCORPII’s lineup of Gaute Refsnes on keyboards, Inge Jonny Lomheim on bass guitars, accordion and programming, Ole M. Nordsve on drums, Rune Sjøthun on rhythm guitars, mandolin and programming, and Thomas S. Øvstedal on vocals, recently welcomed a new arrival into its ranks in the shape of Erlend Nybø on lead guitars.

“Ruin” will be released in CD, Double LP and Digital formats and is now available to pre-order from:

Fans of the Norwegian Extreme Melodic genre in general, and of COR SCORPII in particular, have waited eight long years for the follow up to the band’s debut album “Monument”, and now, at last, the long wait is over with the band set to release their sophomore full-length “Ruin” on the 15th June on Dark Essence Records.

The result of a lengthy, and at times arduous, song writing process, “Ruin” draws its inspiration from classical music, folk melodies and the soundscapes of Nordic extreme metal. Revealing the hidden talents that can be found amongst its members, COR SCORPII have, on “Ruin”, made use of instruments that are unusual for a metal band, such as the accordion and mandolin.

Recorded at various locations over a period of three years, “Ruin” was mixed by Børge Finstad in his Toproom Studio, and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll at his Kvalsonic Lab. Seamlessly blending epic, soaring melodies, with the harshness of extreme metal, “Ruin” includes guest appearances by the classical singer Annika Beinnes, as well as Mats Lerberg (I SWEAR DAMNATION, ex-FUNERAL) who lend their considerable vocal talents to three tracks each.

With artwork by Novans V. Adikresna of the Marnov Studio, tracklisting on “Ruin” is as follows:

Svart Blod (Hovmod star for fall)

Hjarteorm

Skuggevandrar

Fotefar

Helveteskap

Ri di Mare

Ærelaus

Siste Dans

Founded in 2004 as an offshoot of the legendary WINDIR, COR SCORPII’s lineup of Gaute Refsnes on keyboards, Inge Jonny Lomheim on bass guitars, accordion and programming, Ole M. Nordsve on drums, Rune Sjøthun on rhythm guitars, mandolin and programming, and Thomas S. Øvstedal on vocals, recently welcomed a new arrival into its ranks in the shape of Erlend Nybø on lead guitars.

“Ruin” will be released in CD, Double LP and Digital formats and is now available to pre-order from:

For one week only Dark Essence Records and sister-label Karisma Records will hold a big record sale with up to 80% discount on CDs, LPs and merch. Check out metal album titles from Taake, Aeternus, Hades Almighty, Shining (Swe), Galar, Alfahanne, Slegest, Sarkom, Helheim, Kraków and more via links below;

After keeping fans waiting for four years, Norwegian Black Folk Metallers COR SCORPII have set the date of the 17th July on which to begin recording their sophomore full-length album. As with their previous release “Monument” the album will be recorded and mixed by Børge Finstad at his Toproom Studio (MAYHEM, BORKNAGAR, VINTERSORG, TRISTANIA, ARCTURUS etc).

So far the band have released very little information about the album, which has a working title of “Ruin”, other than to say that they expect to have it finished by the autumn of this year and that it will be released on Dark Essence Records. They have, however, posted a pre-production teaser of what will eventually turn into a 9 -10 minute epic track, as an indication on what fans can expect. The teaser can be heard on the band’s official YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/T1bDm6I6lVw

COR SCORPII was formed in 2004 by WINDIR/ULCUS keyboard player Gaute Refsnes following the tragic death of WINDIR’s Terje “Valfar” Bakken. With a lineup that includes Thomas Øvstedal on vocals, Gaute Refsnes on keyboards, Erlend Nybø on lead guitars, Rune Sjøthun on rhythm guitars, Inge Jonny Lomheim on bass and Ole “Vargon” Nordsve on drums, COR SCORPII’s music blends melody with aggression, and black metal vocals with strong folk metal feel that has made the Bergen band so popular with fans of the extreme genres.

It has just been confirmed that COR SCORPII will be joining DARK ESSENCE RECORDS label-mates TAAKE at next year’s Karmøygeddon Metal Festival, and more information about COR SCORPII can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/officialcorscorpii

The pre-production video teaser for the upcoming COR SCORPII album can be heard here:

Several tracks from COR SCORPII can be heard on the band’s SoundCloud Page here:

Bergen-based DARK ESSENCE RECORDS, the Norwegian label whose roster features not only some of the most respected and long- standing Black and Extreme Metal artists in the business, but also some of the most talented upcoming bands, showcases no less than seven of its bands at this year’s Inferno Festival. One of Europe’s foremost music festivals Inferno takes place annually in Oslo, and this year runs for four days from the 27th to the 30th March http://www.infernofestival.net

Opening night of the festival, which is effectively the club night, sees four of the bands appearing at Blå. Post Rockers KRAKOW (http://www.krakowofficial.com/), whose critically acclaimed sophomore album “diin” was release in Autumn of last year, kick off the evening at 21:00, followed by Melodic Extreme Metallers COR SCORPII (http://www.corscorpii.net/), who are currently working on their next album. Third band on will be VULTURE INDUSTRIES (http://www.vulture-industries.net/ ), a band whose skilled interpretation of avant-garde extreme metal, coupled with the highly theatrical and manic performance of frontman Bjornar Nilsen, makes for a fascinating live show. Topping the bill will be HELHEIM (http://helheim.com/ ) one of the original Norwegian Viking Metal bands who celebrate their historical roots both in their music and in the visual effects used in their live performances, and who have been together for over twenty years. Information about how to get to Blå can be found at http://www.blaaoslo.no/

Thursday 28th sees another band celebrate its twentieth anniversary when TAAKE headlines on the Rockefeller stage at 23:00. TAAKE frontman HOEST will also be holding a signing session at 15:00 in the Shadowland record store (http://www.shadowland.no/), Torggata 36 (200 meters from the Rockefeller). Formed in 1993, TAAKE’s contribution to the Norwegian Black Metal Scene has been considerable; with founder Hoest remaining true to his Black Metal roots, whilst still being able to breathe life and originality into the genre even after twenty years. The band recently released “Gravkamre, Kroner og Troner” (Tombs, Crowns and Thrones), a double Anniversary CD which feature exclusive new tracks as well as rare and previously unreleased material, alternative versions of previously released tracks and recordings that have, until now, only been available on vinyl. More information about TAAKE at http://taake.svartekunst.no/

AETERNUS will hit the Rockeffeler stage on Friday 29th at 19:45, a few days in advance of the release of “…And The Seventh His Soul Detesteth”, the band’s seventh full-length album. Founded in 1993 by guitarist and frontman Ares, AETERNUS has re-emerged seven years after the release of their last album “Hexaeon” with a new line up that comprises Ares on guitars and vocals, Phobos (GRAVDAL, MALSAIN) on drums and Specter on guitars. One of the pioneers of what the band calls “Dark Metal”, AETERNUS’ sound combines features from both Black Metal and Death Metal with superlative guitar playing and occasional haunting, melodic interludes. More information about AETERNUS can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Aeternusofficial

Saturday 30th, the last day of the festival, also sees the last of the DARK ESSENCE RECORDS bands to appear. HADES ALMIGHTY will play on the Rockefeller Stage at 19:45, and incidentally they were one of the bands who performed at the very first Inferno Festival in 2001. Apart from the occasional live appearance from the trio of Janto on Bass and Lead Vocals, Jorn on Guitars and Synth and Remi on Drums and vocals, things have been relatively quiet since the re-release in 2004 of their 2001 classic “The Pulse of Decay”, but the band has been busy behind the scenes working on the next album. More information about HADES ALMIGHTY can be found at http://www.hades-almighty.com/

This unholy trinity spaning the width of the Dark Essence catalogue will hit the road for two exclusive european dates this October. The package will hit Festung Bitterfeld in Germany on Friday the 28’th where they will join forces with local thrashers Trimonium. For the following day, Phantoms Of Pilsen 5, a anual festival in Plzen in the Czech Republic is due for destruction. Here the bands will perform alongside bands like Dornenreich, Panychida and Agrypnie.Festung BitterfeldPhantoms of Pilsen 5